Propulsive-spring foot support



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UNITED STATES ALBERT S. BIERLY, OF CHIAGO, ILLINOIS.

PROPULSIVE-SPRING FOOT SUPPORT.

Application med July 14, 1,924. Serial N o. 725,846.

My invention relates to a spring foot support and particularly to a spring support for the foot which is of assistance in locomotion. It has for one object-to provide a cushion adaptable for use either with or without a skate. Another object is the provision of a foot support which shall automatically, in response to pressure of the foot, tend to throw or catapult the user forward on the rebound. Another object is the provision of a cheap and simple toy. .Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less dianrammatically in the accompanying drawh ings, wherein- Figure 1 is a View of my invention as ap? plied to'the foot when used withouta skate;

Figures 2 and 3 are similar views of variant forms of my invention; and

Figure 4 illustrates the application of one form of my invention to a skate.

Like parts are indicated b like charac.- ters throughout the specification and draw- 5 ings.

In the form shown in Figure 1 A is the sole of the slice. B and C are the spring engaging and ground engaging arms respectively of a unit spring member, the two arms being connected, for example, by .the bent portion D. D1 is any suitable resilient support, herein shown as a block or pad of resilient material, such as rubber. With this form of my invention, the downward pressure of the foot depresses the upper foot engaging element B toward the ground engaging element C, thus bending the member D and compressing the resilient element D1. When the pressure of the foot is released, the other foot being placed upon the ground, the combined action of the bent portion D and the resilient member D1 moves the eleiiient B upwardly, and in a general sense. rotates -it about the point adjacent the bend D. Since the rear end of the member distends from the center and describes a relatively long arc, the rebound has a tendency to throw the user, not only upwardly, but forwardly along its path.

In the form shown in Figure 2, the elements B and C are separate and are hinged as at E. E1 is a resilient member corresponding to D1, but herein shown as a spiral spring. In order to supply the place of the resiliency of the bend D of the one piece, I provide the rear spiral spring E2 herein shown as secured to the element B and vterminating short of the element C, al-

though, of course, it might be secured toV both. In order to limit the upward movement of the element B in response to the action of the spring E1 or E2, I provide a limiting guard E* secured both to the u per element B and the lower element The action of the form of Figure 2 is the same as that of Figure l and there is the same tendency to throw the foot and body forwardl as well as upwardly. The spring E2 substitutes for the connecting bend D of the form of Figure l, both in adding to the resiliency of the whole member and in taking part of the strain which would otherwise fall upon the element E1.

In the form shown in Figure 3, the elements B and C are connected by the relatively sti spiral spring G. The opposed yielding elements G1 and Gr2 limit the downward movement of the element B and add to the resiliency of the device. Gr4 is a, limiting chain or guard similar to E.

In the formv shown in Figure 4 the shoe A is supported on the relativelyl resilient shoe engaging element H, which in turn is ,supported upon the ground engaging tread late H1. H and H1 are connected at their orward ends by the semi-circular leaf spring J and at their rear ends by a similar, but stronger semi-circular leaf spring J 1. Interposed between the elements H and H1 are a plurality of spiral springs K, K1 and K2 all secured at their upper ends to the member H. At the rear the member H also normally engages the member K, it being longer than the springs K1 and K2 and being put under compression sooner, exerts a more powerful thrust. When the type of the invention shown in Figure 4 is used, it has the same tendency as the other three to throw the foot forwardly as well as upwardly. It may also be used with a skate of any other type. To illustrate this I have shown in Figure 4 in dotted lines a skate with caterpillar tread, having a plurality of supporting rollers or cylinders L, and atractor belt M. Itwill be understood that this skate is represented as an illustration and not as -a limitation to be used with the particular type of skate shown. l

While I have illustratedv an operative device, it will be realized that many changes mightbe made in the size, shape Anumber an disposition of parts without d eparting from the spirit of myinvention, and I wish In descri t and drawin s, to be taken asyin a bradglsllse diagramrgnatic and illustrative. 'p

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

A ielding pad or support between foot and skate isfrequently desirable to lessen the shock' of the skate andto make a more comfortable, and, as it were, easy riding skate, .particularly where the skate is of the caterpillar type, and is used over relatively roughl surfaces. I therefore provide a yield-` foot and skate to make the forward move- -ment of the user easier, and to catapult him forward. As one foot isput down and weight on the other foot is relaxed, the intermediate Ayielding member acts more powerfully on the rear of the -foot and tilts the body forward and tends to throw the user forward.

The same principle may be employed where no skate is used, and is Particularly adapted to the manufacture o a toy for children, a speciesof elastic pattern. In its simplest form it consists simply of a shde engaging foot plate or tread plate, and a ground engaging lower plate, and a resilient connection between themwhich operates to lift the rea-r of the foot plate higher than the forward end. It will be understood that any of the forms herein shown mightv be ap plied to a skate, although they are illustrated as detached therefrom. Whenthese simple cata. ultsv are used, the foot is preferably spaced ack from the pivot or forward end of the catapult, as shown in Figure 1.

i I cllaimzl l y v1. n a yie ing ropu sive su ort, a generallyflat relatively extended griillind engaging, member, a foot sup rting member 1n rotatable relation with t e forward end thereof, and yielding 'means interposed between said foot engaging member and said ground engaging member adapted to rotate the rear end ofthe foot engaging member a substantial distance above said round enl gaglng member.

2. In a yielding propulsive support, a generally flat relatively extended .ground engaging member, a foot supporting member in rotatable relation with the forward end thereof, and yielding means compressed between said l foot engaging member and said ground engaging member, adjacent their point of attachment, adapted to rotate the rear end of the foot engagmg member a substantial distance above said ground engaging member. i

3. In a yielding propulsive support, a generally Hat relativel extended ground engaging member, -a floot sup ort-ing member 1n rotatable relation with t e forward end thereof, and yielding means interposed between said foot engaging member and said ground engaging member adapted to rotate the rear end of the foot engaging member a substantial distance above said groundl engaging member, and limiting means adapted to 4limit the' u -ward movement of the rear end of said oot engaging member. v

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois,- this 2nd day of July, 1924.,

ALBERT S. BIERLY. 

